Truth-telling and treaty: Australian Indigenous lawyer’s commitment to real change for First Nations People

January 24, 2026

Tekan Cochrane, an Australian Indigenous lawyer of Kooma, Yuwaalaraay, and Torres Strait Islander heritage, serves as Executive Officer of Tarwirri Indigenous Law Association of Victoria and was recognized as a 2025 finalist for the Australian Human Rights Commission's Law Award. Her professional work centers on addressing systemic injustices affecting First Nations peoples, including her significant involvement in establishing Victoria's Stolen Generations Reparations Package and advocating for reforms in incarceration and child removal policies. Cochrane emphasizes that reversing harmful trends like over-incarceration and family separations requires community-led solutions, adequate government support, and shifting away from punitive approaches toward prevention and culturally appropriate services.

Who is affected

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples (especially youth and children)
Indigenous families experiencing child removals
First Nations legal professionals, graduates, and students
Women of colour facing intersectional discrimination
Aboriginal communities in Victoria
Young Indigenous people considering legal careers
Stolen Generations survivors

What action is being taken

The Victorian Aboriginal Justice Agreement is funding Tarwirri Indigenous Law Association
Victoria is implementing its legislated Treaty framework with First Nations peoples
Tekan Cochrane is serving as Executive Officer of Tarwirri Indigenous Law Association
State and Territory Treaty and truth-telling processes are continuing
Community-led diversion programs and culturally safe youth services are being resourced (though she indicates more support is needed)

Why it matters

The over-incarceration of Indigenous peoples and removal of Indigenous children represent ongoing systemic failures that repeat historical harms despite previous inquiries and apologies. These issues disproportionately criminalize poverty, trauma, and disability while perpetuating intergenerational trauma through policies that separate children from their families, culture, and Country. Victoria's Treaty framework and the Victorian Aboriginal Justice Agreement demonstrate that sustained partnerships between government and Aboriginal communities can lead to measurable improvements in cultural safety, community participation in decision-making, and justice outcomes. The work matters because it addresses fundamental power imbalances and creates mechanisms for First Nations peoples to negotiate directly over issues affecting their lives, moving toward genuine self-determination and structural reform.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: Global Voices